(He's so— he's— he's—)
'Home... I wanna go home.'
'I'm tired. Really tired.'
'Mama will be worried, I should go back'
"Hey, you good?"
Y/n blinked blearily, then looked at Caelus who had swapped outfits to his usual fit. Hole free and very clean.
Y/n and March 7th had been ready to go, but the hydrogen bomb was lagging behind. So, of course, y/n went to go check on him.
"I'm just looking for something, it won't take long."
It'd been long enough for y/n to space out, so clearly that statement had been a big fat lie. Regardless, he seemed to be ready now, so they could leave.
"I'm fine, let's just get going." y/n murmured as she got up from where she was seated. Caelus watched her with a little frown before suddenly blurting, "If we run into trouble, I'll handle it."
"Huh?"
"I'll keep you and March safe, so you just relax. Okay? Don't worry about doing any fighting." Caelus assured her. It felt odd to not see him smiling, but his words were still such a relief to hear.
Y/n's breath hitched a bit as she inhaled, quickly turning her gaze back to her lap as she nodded, "Right... thank you, Caelus. I appreciate it."
It'd be fine. Caelus was there to protect them.
Surely everything would be fine—
"Boss, encounter with three unknowns. Want me to take them out? Over." a shocked gasp from March 7th followed as she jumped to shield y/n.
"Take us out?!" March demanded before turning her gaze to the hydrogen bomb, "Caelus!"
"On it!" the gray haired trailblazer exclaimed, brandishing that bat of his as y/n could only stand there looking like an appalled fish.
'Wait, what's even-?'
Y/n watched in with a blank look as Caelus slammed his bat against the IPC Worker's face, sending the man to the ground.
"What the hell?! Get off of me!"
"Get him, Caelus, get 'em!"
WHAM! POW! WHACK! BAM!
Y/n was left staring at the snowflakes dancing through the air before her brain started working again and she looked down at where Caelus was just going ham on the poor dude.
The IPC Worker had begun fighting back, managing to land a good hit on Caelus' nose before the trailblazer broke through his helmet and started landing some direct hits to his face.
Left, right, left, right, a random kick to the crotch from March. Y/n was in shock as her companions took turns beating down on the IPC Worker while she kind of just stood there in complete disbelief.
It took a moment before she began to wonder...
'Is this what I was like as Train Guard?'
"What in the world?! What's happening here?!"
Y/n jolted, snapping out of her daze and looking back as someone else rapidly approached. A woman with short white hair, a single red streak and blue eyes was rapidly approaching, also an IPC member from the looks of it. There was even a Warptrotter by her side.
"Is this your employee?" y/n inquired, gesturing to the IPC Worker being held still by Caelus while March 7th jabbed him in the gut with one of her shoes.
"Yeah, he is..." the blue eyed woman said breathlessly, "I'm guessing those two are your companions, right...?"
"Yeah, they were a little alarmed when he suggested taking us out, and immediately attacked." y/n explained, "Could I get some help with... you know, getting them to stop?"
The white haired woman nodded, "Of course."
With some effort, they managed to get March 7th's attention and she backed off, but Caelus required some more work.
"Stay still, you moron."
Caelus winced as y/n patted at his cheek with some snow where a small cut was oozing blood, likely a result of the sharpened edge of the IPC Worker's armor meeting his face.
The Trailblazer winced, cringing away from the ball of snow and squeezing his eyes shut as March 7th wiped at his bloody nose with a tissue, "I told you two, I'm fine...!"
"Shut up and sit still!" March 7th snapped before turning her gaze back to the woman with the white hair, "Urgh, sorry about all of this...."
"Don't worry about it, I should be apologizing. On behalf of my colleague, sorry for the trouble, he's not the best when it comes to interacting with people." the IPC lady replied with a small smile, "Ah, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Topaz, an investment expert from the Interastral Peace Corporation. I'm here in Jarilo-VI for a special business assignment."
Y/n and March 7th glanced at the colleague whose helmet had been completely broken in the front, revealing his bloodied nose and scowl beneath.
"Haa... you scared the life out of me." March breathed, "We're here for the celebrations, not to get into more conflict!"
Y/n side eyed the her pink haired companion, 'The way you and Caelus were double teaming that poor man says otherwise...'
"Oh, we haven't introduced ourselves either!" March 7th gasped, "I'm March 7th, a passenger of the Astral Express — you may have heard of it? And this," she shoved the tissue up Caelus's nose, causing him to squeal, "These are my friends and fellow passengers, Caelus and Y/n!"
The pair exchanged a look and y/n looked away first, pressing the snow back against Caelus's face while the young man inhaled sharply with a small hiss.
"I could tell you three weren't locals, but I didn't expect that you'd be Nameless. Fate is such a curious thing." Topaz hummed, "I heard that it was thanks to the direct intervention of the Trailblazers that Jarilo-VI stepped out of the Stellaron's shadow. Surely you three aren't..."
"That'd be us, the honor is yours." Caelus said with pride to which March gave him an unimpressed look.
"Show some humility, Caelus, hubris isn't a good look on you." March 7th scoffed, a small smile on her face.
"I'd never imagined that I'd run into living legends here. Must be our lucky day, right, Numby?" Topaz hummed as she looked down at the little Warptrotter.
The creature did a little hop in place with a happy noise. Aw, how cute... to think such a cute little creature could be sweet in taste yet inedible—
'No.' y/n pinched herself.
"Wow, you're pretty young for an IPC executive! That's impressive!" March 7th chimed.
Topaz heaved a sigh, "More good luck, I suppose. But it's not as cushy as you think, scurrying from one side of the galaxy to the other, going wherever businesses require me to be."
"Huh, your job sounds pretty similar to the Express crew's! Aside from the business part, I guess..." March remarked.
"Now that I think about it, Bronya is really impressive. Moving so fast and all. The crisis has only just come to end and she's already opened talks with the IPC." Caelus commented as y/n took to pressing some of the snow against his fists which had begun to bruise.
"Ah... these talks aren't exactly what you might expect, but I have to agree, the Supreme Guardian definitely knows how to govern a city." Topaz replied, "That's the reason I'm here on Jarilo-VI — to meet with her."
"Hopefully it won't get in the way of the festival as much as this conversation has." y/n mumbled and March 7th sputtered, clearly about to protest against her rather rude comment.
"Oh, that's right, you all were here for the festivities, weren't you? My apologies for delaying you three!" Topaz laughed, showing no signs of being offended by y/n's quiet remark
"No, no, no, it's fine! It's not like we're in a rush." March 7th assured the woman, earning a puzzled look from Caelus.
"Wait, we aren't? But weren't you rushing me?" he questioned only to be pointedly ignored.
"Wanna come to the city with us? The Snow Plains are freezing, and it's easier than you think to get lost out here." March 7th offered with a warm smile.
Topaz shook her head, "Thanks for the concern, but I'll manage. It's my first time on this world, so I'd like to take in its vast, iconic snowscape for just a little longer." she grinned a bit, "But hey, maybe we'll cross paths again during the celebrations. Oh, here's my contact information. I don't usually respond during work hours, but I'd be happy to chat off the clock~"
The pink haired trailblazer's eyes lit up, "Woah, I actually managed to get an IPC executive's phone number without even trying!"
"Teach me how to get rich!" Caelus suddenly blurted, his eyes sparkling with delight as he jumped to his feet.
"M—Me too!" March chimed in.
"..." y/n heaved a sigh, glancing away with a mildly exasperated look only to frown and wander off when she spotted something in the distance.
"Heh, you two are a cute pair!" Topaz chuckled as her and the IPC Worker this "cute pair" jumped turned to leave, "Anyway, I'd better be on my way, see you next time!"
"Ah... what a view." Caelus sighed dreamily.
"Wait a minute, where did y/n go?" March questioned.
...
The pair's expressions became distraught.
"💩."
The Solwarm Festival was a very exciting time for everyone in Belobog — young, old, civilians... even the Silvermane Guard!
Sure, there was an increase in pickpockets and such festivities required more patrols, but there was plenty of good food to eat and exciting sights to take in.
A group of Silvermane Guards were preparing for patrols, getting their orders from Gepard and everything, and a couple of the dudes were even munching on sun cakes!
James and Soren were among the guards receiving their orders, the latter listening attentively while the former chowed down on some sun cakes.
"Captain Gepard has seemed pretty down lately." Soren remarked, earning a puzzled look from James.
The young man looked back and forth between the Captain and his curly haired comrade before frowning, "Down? He looks the same as usual today."
Soren sighed, "Don't you see it? That sad look in his eyes? He's clearly grieving at the moment, has been for the past week or so."
James tried looking again.
"I still don't see it."
"Of course you don't, you're as straight as a wooden plank." one of the others guards remarked in a wry tone.
"About as dense as one too." another snickered.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" James questioned as another Silvermane Guard pat him on the shoulder, this one being Zackery.
"You see, Soren here just looooves Captain Gepard so very much, so it's only natural that he picks up on it when our stoic Captain is troubled." Zackery exclaimed, "Ain't that right, Soren."
Soren gritted his teeth, 'I'm gonna shoot this bastard in the foot if he doesn't shut the hell up already—'
He decided to just look away and tune out his co-workers, glancing out at where people were enjoying the festivities before— OH NO.
H/c hair. E/c eyes?!
'Oh no, the crazy ♀🐶 is back!'
She was alone, simply wandering about with a sun cake and an unfocused look as she walked from one shop to another.
Y/n was in her own world, reality seeming to melt away around her as she wandered about aimlessly.
She'd left Caelus and March behind... that was fine, they'd probably spent a lot of time talking to Topaz anyways. The sun came was yummy, but she preferred songlotus cakes a little bit more.
Soren continued watching the dazed y/n as she idled on bu
Where were those other trailblazers who were usually with her, huh? Was she here alone for the festivities?
Soren felt a little unnerved to see her there... only for that pink haired trailblazer to come running and grab y/n by the arm, immediately snatching her attention.
That gray haired trailblazer joined them as well and y/n was quickly dragged away, leaving Soren in disbelief.
'What was that about?'
"Y/n, why'd you ditch us like that?" March 7th demanded as the trio wandered towards Qlipoth Fort together, "Caelus and I spent over an hour looking for you."
"Sorry, I was hungry." y/n apologized quietly as she stared at the sun cake in her hand, "Where are we going now?"
"We were about to head to Qlipoth Fort to say hi to Bronya." March explained, "We can enjoy the festivities then take a rest at the hotel afterwards, sound good?"
Y/n didn't have the energy to complain, so she nodded and followed her companions to this Qlipoth Fort place.
As they walked, she couldn't help but wonder...
'How am I gonna explain the whole being alive thing?'
("Nah, I'd win")